Steam press for clothes



A Zi- 1 Wk ik Nk `\\i Sept. 4, 192s. 1,682,903

W. S. HADAWA-Y, JR

STEAM PRESS FOR CLOTHES Filed April l1, 1923 BKZMW/ ATTORNEY ance with this invention.

Patented Sept. d', i933.

winnie-M nanaivar, JR., or new ROCHELLE, `new Yoan.

STEAM PRESS FOR CLOTHES.

application `inea apra i1,

My invention relates tofneiv and useful improvements" in laundry and garment presses and the like in which steam or. hot vapor is used as e heating agent, either along, or in 'conjunction with an auxiliary heating' agent such as electricity, and to a novel method oil" pressing` and finishing' clothes. its object iste provide a simple machine for steaming and pressing` articles Without the use ot absorbent pads with their attendant undesirable effects, and by Which the pressing; operationniay be accomplished more quickly and by whichthe intervals between successive operationsmay be shortcned. I` i Another object isto provide an apparatus by which the article acted upon may be moistened and dried `almost instantly and in which the pressing' elements remain dry.

`il more speciticaobjeet is to provide an apparatus whiehis arranged to utilize steam at difiiei'ent temperatures and also to provide an auxiliary eleetricheating element which may be used it desired. y Another object ot this invention is to provide an improved method of pressing);` and nishing which removes some of the diii` culties encountered in such methods as have been known heretofore. y p

Further objectsof the invention vvill appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings which form a part et this application and in "which,`

Fig. l is a sectional elevation et `a steam press for clothes-Which is made in aecord- Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan vievv of a portion oit one of thcprcss elements with va- `rions layers thereof broken away in order to showl more clearly its construction.`

Fig. E isa sectional elevation ot the upper press element which is drawn on an enlarged scale in order to show more clearly its construction. i e

Fig. el a plan view ol:` an electric heater which may form a part otthis application.

Figi. is a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale ot a heater element arranged to be energized by a heatinej fluid and electricity. which may be used for the construe-V tion of a `heater oiimodilied form.

Lilie characters of reference designate corresponding; parts in all oit the giuesot the drawings. e e

lddesignates an upper-press member and 20 a lower press member of somewhat simi 1923. Serial N0. GSLEB.

lar construction. These members are, as shown, so placed that corresponding parts oi' each are arranged to coact. These meurbersare relativelymovable and for the sake ot explaining; thisr invention it will `be sumed that 'thelower member 2O is stationary `and that the upper member l() capable of being; moved vertically away from and back to theother. Each of these members comprises a frame` lland 2l respectively, having Webs l2 and respectively, Which Webs divide the frames into relatively small openings, which in this case as `clearly shown in Fig. 2, are rectangular and are desigr` nated by the reference characters 13,23. Secured to each of the trames at the back thereof are distributingmembers 14,24 forming chambers l5, 25. `To the chamber l5 steam or hot vapor may be supplied either through valvecontrolled pipe 1G or through a similar pipe 17. One of these; such as 1G, is connected preferably `vvith asupply ot low temperature dry steam and the other 1.7 is connected with a source o'i' superheated steam at a higher temperature." This steam is arranged to pass through a plurality of passages i8 into and through flaring openings 19 commuriiczuimg1 respectively With the chambers 13. y

The spaces or chambers 13 and the similar spaces 23 `on the lower `press member are iilled with masses `50 of Wire" screen `or some other suitable porous structure through Whichfthe het vapor may percolate. Beyond the Webs l2 and 22 Wire screens 3l or the lilre are stretched over the entire trames l and 20 andoutside ot theivire screens are cloth covers 32. 'lheseare not the equivalent of' the pads Which are usually `employed instructuresot thissame gene 'al character `as they `arevery thin and have no moisture absorbing property. interposed between the "screens 3l of the upper press member is an electric heater 33 which may be in the form of anbpeh mesh as shown in Fig. e so that it is porous.

"It desired7 theauxiliary heater may be constructed to utilize both a hot huid and `electricity in the manner disclosed in Patent No. 1,468,106 issued `September 18, 1923, on anapplication copendingfherewith. A part of a structure of" this kindis shown in Fig.

in which is an inner metallic tube arranged to conduct a heating fluid such steam into the element and from one end to the other thereof, and lis an outertube forming a return passage therefor. 52 is a resistance wire extending from the inlet end of the inner tube to its opposite end where it is electrically connected thereto, so that the wire 52 and the inner tube 50 together form a path for electricity. The wire is spaced from the inner tube and the tubes are spaced from each other by a granular filler 53.

The details of the structure of the upper press member 10 is clearly brought out in Figs. 2 and 3, and it is to `be understood that the lower press member is of similar construction with the exception that the lower press member 20 is rovided with no steam supply pipes, but rom its chamber 25 leads an out-let pipe `26 connected directly to a steam trap 27. There is alsoa valve 28 in the outlet pipe 26 which when opened permits the steam from chamber 25 to pass directly into the atmosphere.

As shown in the drawings, I prefer to utilize screens of coarser mesh at the back or away from` the pressing surface and to build up .finer and finer mesh screens with the small openings and the consequently smoother surfaces of the outerscreens. The outer screens may, if desired, form the working surfaces of the press members, or if a non-metallic surface is desired, a sheet of cloth or the like, designated by 32 and of desired texture, dependent upon the use to which the press isto be put, may be utilized.

Around the edges of the upper press member 10 is a band 40 and a similar band 41 is placed around the edges of the lower press member 20 to hold the outer covers such as 32, in place.` 42 is a flexible apron which depends from the band 40 and is arranged to overlap the band 41 and form a steam tight closure therewith when the two press members are brought into proximity.

IVhen not in use the two press members may be brought together and low temperature steam admitted through pipe 16 allowed to percolate through the porous mass of the upper press member and down through the porous mass of the lower press member. This steam will then escape through the pipe 2G into the steam trap 27, or, in case the valve 28 is open, directly into the atmosphere. In this manner the press members may be kept hot for the purpose of expe diting the operation of pressing.

When it is desired to press any article by the use of thisapparatus, the steam supply is cut olf and` the upper press member raised up from the lower press member. The article is then placed on the upper surface of the lower press member, the upper press member brought down against it and steam admitted either through the pipe 1G or through the pipe 17.

When the steam first comes in contact with the article some of it condenses and meistens the article as in former practice of finishing. But, in this case, the flow of steam is continued down into and through the lower press member and takes up and carries off all moisture. Both press meinbers have high heat capacities and thus assist' the drying. If the article pressed is so thick that it condenses an undue amount of moisture, thedrying action may be accelerated byusing superheated steam. This may be obtained by energizing the electric heater 33, or by admitting super-heated steam through pipe 17, or bot i. y

It customary to dampen the articles before they are pressed and finished, and if this is done, the operation ma be performed by the use of hot air instead7 of steam. It is obvious that the apparatus may be made and used wit-hout the `auxiliary or electric heaters, and that an electric heater may be provided in only the inlet heater member, but in some cases it ma be preferred to provide an auxiliary or elbctric heater in `each of the press members for the reason set forth in the following aragraph. i y

After a pressing and finishing operation, the fluid heat supply is shut oif and the press members separated. At the moment of separation there is atendency for the steam in the members `to escape through the porous pressing surfaces which at the saine time are exposed to the cooler temperature of the surrounding atmosphere. `This might cause some condensation to take place on these surfaces. The porous masses are constructed of material having a considerable heat capacity and the latent heat therein counteracts this `tendency toward condensation. The auxiliary heaters, when supplied, may remain energized when the ress members are separated to further dissipate any condensed moisture and to assist in keeping the press members dry.

, The construction and method of heating the pads shown and described herein was fully set forth in Patent No. 1,551,149 issued to me August 27, 1925,` the application for which was copending herewith and was dvided, certain features of the original disclosure being lcovered in Patent No. 1,610,515 issued to me December 14, 1926, and other features of this original disclosure being em bodied in this present application.

This invention is capable of being embodied in other structures than that shown for purposes of illustration and the novel method of ressing clothes herein disclosed may be per ormed with many other kinds of apparatus `and therefore I intend no limitations other than those imposed by the appended claims.

`What I claim is:

l. In apparatus of the character described, a pair of hollow press members having cooperating surfaces arranged tp receive an article between them, a porousmass of heat retainingmaterial in each of said members and means `for passinga current of hot gaseous medium into one of the members through said cooperating surfaces an article between saidsurfaces and out through theotherimember.

2; `In apparatus of the character described,

a pair of hollow relatively movable press members having cooperating surfaces arranged to receive an article between them, a porous mass of heat retaining material `in each of said members,`m`eans for surround ing and enclosing saidfsurfaces when the members are near each other, and means for passing a current of hot gaseous mediuni into one of the members,through said coop# erating surfaces an article between "said surfaces and out through theother member.

8. In apparatus of the character described, a pair of hollow press members having cooperating surfaces arranged to receive an article between them, a porous mass of heat retaining material in said members, means for passing a current of hot vapor into one of the members through said cooperating surfaces an article between said surfaces and out through the other member, and an auxiliary heater in that member into which the steam is first passed.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a pair of hollow press members having cooperating surfaces arranged to receive an article between them, a porous mass of heat retaining material in saidl members, means for passing a current of hot vapor into one ofthe members through said cooperating surfaces an article between said surfaces and out t rough the other member, and an auX- iliary" heater in that member into which the hot vapor is first passed near its said surface.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a pair of hollow press members havingcooperating surfaces arranged to receive an article between them, a porous mass of heat retaining material in said members, means for passing steam at unlike temperatures into one of the members through said cooperataing surfaces and out through the other member, and an auxiliary heater in that member into which the steam is first passed. p

6. ln an apparatus of the character described, a pair of hollow press members, a plurality of substantially parallel wire screens and a permeable electric heater in at least one of said members, and means for passing a current of hot vapor through one of the members and out through the other member.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a pair of hollow press members, a plurality of substantially parallel wire screens in said members, means for passing a permeable electric heater in `at least one of the members substantially parallel with the wire screenstherein. i *f 8; ,In an apparatus of the c-haracterdescribed, a pair of relativelylmovable hollow press members having` cooperating surfaces arranged to receive an article between them, aplurality `of substantially"parallel wire screens of unlike size mesh in said members, the iinersereensbeing `placed near the cooperating surfaces, an electric heater par-` allel `with said screens in atleast one ofthe y members, means for surrounding and enclosing' saidsurfaces when the members arenear eachother, 'and means foi-passing a current of -hot .vapor into one of the members, through said cooperating surfaces" an article between said surfaces andout through `the other1nembe`r-` `9.*'I1rlan` apparatusof the character del scribed, a` pair of relatively movable hollow press members having cooperating surfaces arranged to receive an articlebetween them, a plurality of substantially parallel wire screens of unlike size mesh in said members, the finer screens being placed near the cooperating surfaces, a permeable electric heater in at least one of the members between adjacent screens near said surface and substantially parallel with the screens, means for surrounding and enclosing said surfaces when the members are near each other, and means for passing a current of hot vapor into one of the members, through said cooperating surfaces an article between said surfaces and out through the other member.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a pair of relatively movablem hollow press members having cooperating surfaces arranged to receive an article between them, a plurality of substantially parallel wire screens of unlike size mesh insaitl members, the finer screens being placed near the co operating surfaces, a permeable electric heater, in the members between the adjacent screens near said surfaces and substantially parallel with the screens, means for surrounding and enclosing said surfaces when the` members are near each other, and means for passing acurrent of het vapor into one of the members, through said cooperating surfaces an article between said surfaces and out through the other member.

11. A. press member comprising a vapor chamber having a discharge opening, a porous mass in said opening, said mass comprising a plurality of closely assembled substantially parallel wire screens and an auxiliary heater interposed between said screens.

12. A press member having a pressing surface, said member comprising a vapor chamber having a dischange` opening, a porous mass in said opening, said mass comprising a plurality of closely assembled substantially parallel wire screens of unlike size mesh, the

i liner screens being placed near the pressing surface, and a ermeable electric heater between and para lel with said screens.

13. A ress member having a pressing `surface, said) member comprising a vapor chamber having a discharge opening, a porous mass in said o ning, said mass comprising a plurality of c osely assembled substantially arallel Wire screens of unlike size mesh, the

ner screens being placed near the pressing surface, and a permeable electric heater near said pressing surface, between and parallel with said screens.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, a pair of hollow ress members, vapor conduits and a plura ity of substan-` tially parallel screens in each of` said members, means for passing hot vapor intoone of the members through the screens in both 20 members and out through the other member,

and a permeable electric heater in that one of the members into which the hot vapor is first passed substantially parallel with the wire screens therein. f l

15. In an apparatus of the character described, a palr of hollow press members, vapor conduits and a plurality ofsubstantially parallel screens in each `of said members, means for passing hot vapor intoI one of the members through the screens in both members andout through the other member, and a permeable electric heater in that one of the members into which the hot vapor is first passed substantially parallel with the wire screens therein at the side thereof which is opposite the conduit through which the hot `vapor is introduced.

In `testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of A ril, 1923.

WILLIAM S. HADA VAY, JB. 

